by Jim Gordan
BEULAH V HOPETOUN
Hopetoun need to improve on their first round effort against Beulah when they were comprehensively beaten by a side that is undefeated so far this season. Things have improved for the Devils since the opening match and Hopetoun will be looking forward to the short trip to Beulah this week to prove to themselves, and their supporters, that their goal of a top four finish by the end of the season is a realistic expectation. It was a good win against Jeparit Rainbow last week, with Bryce Wellington kicking 9 goals and continued good play from the Burdett brothers and Zac Taggert, yet they face a tough assignment this week. Presumably Clayton Shannon will pick up Wellington after his good form from last week when he held Ouyen United’s Ash Connick goaless, but if Shannon is battling against Wellington, Beulah could turn to Rory Shannon who is also in very good form. It is hard to go past the Blues in this match. Last week they played and won a high standard game against Ouyen United and even though they have a couple out on Saturday, they should get home against Hopetoun, but it will be much closer this time around.
WALPEUP UNDERBOOL V OUYEN UNITED
The Roos will go into this game as the underdog, but both teams know that the Munro boys, the Lattas, Tim Vallance and the rest of the team, love to come up against Ouyen United no matter where either team is positioned on the ladder. Ouyen United should have almost a full squad available; they will welcome back Glenn Joyce and will be quietly pleased with Sonny Lindsay’s game last week when the Demons lost no friends in a tough one point loss at Beulah. Walpeup Underbool have a good record against Ouyen United on their home ground and with Warwick Brady and Kane Munro running into form last week against the Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers, and with the enticing prospect of a soft and hopefully damp ground, United will need to bring their best form to the game. The Roos will miss Simon Markham, Ouyen United’s form has been outstanding so far this season and they should be able to win comfortably to maintain credibility as one of the top two teams in the League.
WOOMELANG LASCELLES V SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS
We have it on very good authority that the Woomelang Lascelles ground is in tiptop condition this week after a good fall of rain during the week and more importantly, the grasshoppers have finally moved on! This match may not look as enticing as others being played this week as the bottom side is playing a top four side, but in their previous encounter this year, the Cats were four goals up half way through the second quarter and they always like coming up against the Tigers. Joel and Trent Donnan have been playing well for Woomelang Lascelles as has Tony Mudge, but it is hard to go past the Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers. They won well last week against the Roos, and the previous week were well in the match against the unbeaten Beulah before the Blues skipped away at the end. Sea Lake Nandaly will again be looking for goals from their two key forwards in Ryan Dowdy and Nathan Wight who kicked 5 each against the Roos and they were pleased with the form of Darcy Ryan, Col Durie and younger players Sam Roberts, Taylor Hannig and wingmen Andy Roberts.
Last Modified on 27/05/2010 17:22
